Ashish Avikunthak's productivity is staggeringly ambitious, consistently captivating, and aesthetically audacious. It might easily be compared to that of Harun Farocki, Werner Herzog, or perhaps even Jean-Luc Godard. This penetrating volume offers a much-needed exploration of Avikunthak's radical cinematic practice, exploring how his films challenge dominant epistemes and subvert aesthetic conventions. The insightful essays in this book adroitly situate the intellectual and philosophical depth of his work within urgent debates on history, identity, and resistance. Essential reading for those interested in avant-garde cinema, postcolonial thought, and the transformative power of art in turbulent times.

Charles Musser, Professor of Film and Media Studies, Yale University, USA

This is a very important book about a very important filmmaker, particularly at this moment or historical juncture. This is the first book I have ever seen on Avikunthak's films, and the fact that it includes long-time collaborators, one of the film-maker's videographers, and an interview are all real gifts. This is one of those cutting-edge books that will grow in importance with time.

Jeffrey J. Kripal, J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought, Rice University, USA, and author of How to Think Impossibly: About Souls, UFOs, Time, Belief, and Everything Else (2024)

The book is interesting and compelling. Avikunthak continues to develop interesting cinematic ideas, and he has made a decisive intervention in ongoing debates about cinema's future. He fully merits the sort of attention this book provides.

Richard I. Suchenski, Founder of Film Secession, Associate Professor of Film and Electronic Arts and Director of the Center for Moving Image Arts, Bard College, USA